Boys and girls from St Declan's Community College in Kimacthomas, Co Waterford, were met by former student and current Waterford TD Paudie Coffey.

Protesters from the school, left, presented Mr Coffey with a study conducted into pylons by an engineering firm.

Mr Coffey told the Irish Independent that he listened to their views, adding: "I would be advocating their concerns. It's not a straightforward issue. As I said to them . . . the infrastructure is required but there's a whole debate to be had around climate change, energy security, and the whole pylon issue."

Two of the proposed Grid Link projects run through Waterford, where locals have mounted strong resistance to pylons being developed in their area.